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Texas suspends Case McCoy and Jordan Hicks from Alamo Bowl amid sexual assaultinvestigation

Texas Longhorn quarterback Case McCoy
kansascity.sbnation.com
Texas Longhorn Jordan Hicks

University of Texas football players Case McCoy and Jordan Hicks have been suspended for the Alamo Bowl and sent home as a reported sexual assault investigation (with no charges yet filed) swirls around Mack Brown's program. The Austin American-Statesman's Hookem.com first reported the identity of the players suspended, citing multiple sources.

Both juniors were considered recognized leaders of the football team. McCoy — the younger brother of UT legend and current NFL quarterback Colt McCoy, and a sometime starter — would have been the backup quarterback to David Ash in Saturday night's Alamo Bowl. Hicks, a starting linebacker, has missed most of the season due to injury and was not expected to play.

Brown later announced that two Texas players have been suspended and sent home for a "violation of team rules" at a bowl preview news conference.

Their suspensions come with a cloud of suspicion with KENS-TV in San Antonio reporting that San Antonio police are investigating two Texas football players accused of sexual assault by a 21-year-old woman.

According to the report, the woman met two Texas football players during a night of partying and invited them back to her hotel room around 2 a.m. Thursday night/Friday morning. She later filed sexual assault complaints against them.

No charges have been filed.

Brown later announced that two Texas players have been suspended and sent home for a "violation of team rules" at a bowl preview news conference.

Any suggestion that McCoy and Hicks are the two named in the complaint is simply an assumption, but they are the only two players suspended Friday and their descriptions match those in the police report.

Neither player has been arrested or formally charged with anything at this time.

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Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

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